She may have been one of their highest selling acts to date, but it would seem Ashanti‘s relationship with UMG’s Def Jam is now a far cry from what it was when she was signed to the label.

For, in a new interview with Hip Hop outlet ‘Vlad TV‘, the singer/actress revealed that the label recently blocked an attempt she made to have music from her Christmas album ‘Ashanti’s Christmas’ placed in a Christmas movie she starred in back in 2013.

A sick juror is to thank for a Manhattan judge’s decision to declare Ashanti‘s “stalker court case” a mistrial this month, disrupting the entire case when it emerged their illness would interrupt deliberations for more than 24 hours.

Not even a court order could stop an Ashanti stalker from keeping his distance from the R&B singer recently, now set to face her in court after violating said order by sending a series of X-rated messages to her.

Twitter is set alight as we speak after reports surfaced moments ago that police officer Darren Wilson was exonerated by a grand jury and will not face charges related to killing Michael Brown – an unarmed African American teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.

In the past 24 hours alone, the hashtag #ferguson has been used over 1 million times. And, by this time tomorrow, that number is set to skyrocket.

As news analyst, social media users, and more continue to weigh in so do the likes of Rihanna, Nas, and more. See what they’re saying below:

The ‘Only U’ belter was on hand to perform the US National Anthem at the event, which was also attended by Jay-Z (who owns a stake in the venue).

Clearly, based on the pic above, there was no animosity between the ladies – nor should there have been. Yes, they were pit against each other for years, but neither has ever had anything negative to say.

And while one’s contributions to music has far outpaced the other, they both have songs and records that today’s new names could only dream of achieving. More power to them both!

Your thoughts?

As reported, a whose who of Hollywood was out in full force last night to celebrate Halloween. And with a multitude of different events taking place in parallel, it was a given that stars would run into one another.

Such was the case for Rihanna and Ashanti, who posed it up together at a party.

Intriguingly, besides a ensemble song for ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ back in 2008, the ladies paths have never crossed before. Unique given the similarities their careers have.

Indeed, Ashanti rose to prominence on Def Jam as part of a collective – Murder Inc / Rihanna is currently signed to the same label by way of Roc Nation. What’s more, Rih is routinely touted as a “rival” to the better-selling Beyonce, who once upon a time was the main chart-thorn in the side of Ashanti’s dominance. Clearly, much has changed since then – although Bey’s “step ahead, level above” status continues plague both ladies. Nonetheless, we digress…

Is it us or could both stars benefit from what the other has? Ashanti from Ms. Fenty’s ability to stay commercially relevant and Rihanna from Ashanti’s vocal strides? They should mingle more…